Young swimmers from south DeKalb put on a performance in Washington, D.C. and at a state swim meet.

The Healthy Lifestyle Healthy Kids “HLHK” SEALs swim club competed in the 31st Annual Black History Meet in Washington, D.C. during the President’s Day weekend. HLHK sent 27 swimmers to the meet and the group came in fifth out of 27 teams.

The team won 13 gold, eight silver and nine bronze medals. The team was led by Pilar King, who won the 2017 8-Under High Point award. She is the third consecutive SEALs swimmer to win the award. Trinity Zackary won the award last year and Kala Berry won it in 2015.

King broke five records at the meet, including the 8-Under 500 freestyle and 8-Under 200 individual medley.

The HLHK SEALs also had six swimmers to compete in the 2017 14 & Under Short Course State Championships in Atlanta. The team also placed fifth at the state meet.

These swimmers qualified among the fastest in Georgia. Berry led the team, winning two gold medals, making her the state’s fastest 10-Under swimmer in the 50- and 100-yard backstroke. Berry is HLHK’s first state championship swimmer.

Berry, Jayla Thompson and Nasir Harrison led the team to 12 medals—two gold, four silver and six bronze.

LHK, as a nonprofit organization that works to increase opportunities for kids to be physically active in an effort to prevent childhood obesity. Located in south DeKalb County, HLHK provides instructional and competitive swimming, soccer and basketball experiences year-round for youth ages 4-18.

The program also teaches children and parents how to eat healthfully. King said he tries to reach the children and get them active at an early age. The swim team is led by coaches Jabari King—founder and executive director—and Brandon Little, who are both former competitive swimmers.